Greencastle museum setting a table for tea this week

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- They come in pewter, clay, china, glass and copper from as far away as Japan and Germany.

Now, though, these collectibles aren't overseas, but rather in Greencastle and under glass in the latest exhibit at the Allison-Antrim Museum.

"Basically, our exhibit is focused on tea and tea sets," said Evan Zimmerman, a docent at the museum.

Only about 10 people visited the exhibit on Sunday, the first of two open houses to see it. Zimmerman, who is a 10th-grader at Greencastle-Antrim High School, attributed the turnout to overcast skies threatening rain.

"The few people who have been here said it was very nice," he said.

Among them was Helen Shelley of Waynesboro, Pa.

"I think they've done a wonderful job to assemble it from private donors. There's a lot of work that goes into putting together an exhibit like this," said Shelley, who is involved with planning the Waynesboro Historical Society's Victorian Fanfare Afternoon Tea scheduled for May 3 and 4.

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She started collecting Shelley China from England and spotted a piece among the dozens of items displayed at the museum.

"Once you get one you discover with your name on it, you'll collect many more," said Shelley, who estimated she has 50 pieces of the china now.

In addition to teapots, the exhibit features tea tins, tea caddies and mote spoons, which are used to skim off debris floating in tea.

One sterling silver set gleams near the window. According to the posted description, that set was given to Bessie Lippincott Colket in 1915 for her wedding gift. The set, made by a Philadelphia jeweler, is on loan from the woman's granddaughter.

The museum, at 365 S. Ridge Ave., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday.